Priebus Deflects Criticism With ‘Etch A Sketch’ Gibe

Chairman of the Republican National Committee Reince Priebus at the Republican National Committee summer meeting Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013, in Boston.

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus on Sunday took a quick shot at a top adviser to Mitt Romney‘s presidential campaign as he dismissed criticism of a plan that could bar CNN and NBC from hosting any 2016 Republican primary debates.

Mr. Priebus last week won unanimous support from the RNC to block the two networks from hosting any Republican debates if they proceed with plans to air entertainment shows devoted to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton next year. Ms. Clinton is seen as a strong candidate if she decides to run, and Republicans see the films as signs of pro-Democrat bias.

Eric Fehrnstrom, a top Romney adviser, wrote Friday on Twitter: “Bad optics for the RNC to block CNN and NBC from sponsoring presidential debates. Attacking the media is a loser’s game.”

Mr. Priebus didn’t take kindly to comment Sunday. “I don’t know if his Etch A Sketch is on tilt, George. I’m not really taking advice from Eric Fehrnstrom right now,” Mr. Priebus told George Stephanopoulos on ABC’s “This Week.”

That, of course, was a reference to a much-derided comment Mr. Fehrnstrom made way back in March 2012–during the heat of the last election campaign. When asked if Mr. Romney was moving too far to the right in an effort to with his party’s primary. Mr. Fehrnstrom responded: “Well, I think you hit a reset button for the fall campaign. Everything changes. It’s almost like an Etch A Sketch. You can kind of shake it up and restart all of over again.”

The comment shook the campaign as rivals knocked Mr. Romney as someone without core convictions.

Mr. Priebus hopes for a smoother primary season next time around, though factions within his party clearly remain divided over national security, the budget, immigration and other issues.

“The fact of the matter is I’ve got to protect this party and our nominees. We don’t want a whole lot of 23 debate rounds like we’ve had before. And I would just say that entities like NBC and CNN that are moving forward with four-part miniseries about Hillary Clinton are not going to take part in our debates,” Mr. Priebus said.

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